Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-30
STATE OF TRADE.
z. G.. Dun & Co.'s. Weekly Review OF
Trade and What it Says Of the
Activity of Business.
Wool-Cottons are Firm at Advances.
The Leather Trade.

NEW 1ORhj DEC, Z0.-h. u Oun d 20
in their weekly review of trade say
"Business throughout the country is
| active for the season and though collec-
tons ct some points are slow and credits
are strained the reports sre generally
satisfactory, but the uncertainty and
hesitation affect important branches OF
productions and the Industrial outlook
does not improve. Currency is in good
supply, even where payments are slowest.
Some speculation has been generally
active and the general level Of
prices though higher than a week
ago in most speculative markets, have, on
the whole, declined little since July L,
the average prices in speculative markets
have advanced 156 per cent. with the ten
dency still upward, while the average ad-
vance of all other prices has been per
cent. with a tendency downward. These
facts indicate activity IN trading rstne
than satisfactory relations Of supply and
demand.
"The iron trade is unsettled, with
sales of several thousand tons of Birm-
ingham pig here, while ct Philadelphia
offers Of 81 below the market sre noted.
Sales of 400,0 tons of steel have been
made during the week and generally st
terms netting about $34. Bar iron is
weaker, and the tendency.to shrinkage in
the demand is not only in crude, but in
many manufactured forms of iron and
steel.
"Wool is not active, and prices range
10 to Is per cent. below those of May
last, Notwithstanding the decrease in i'm
ports and home production, which shows
curtailment of the manufacture.
"Cottons are firm at recent advances,
and in good demand for the season, print
cloth having this week risen to 33c bid ;
but the continued large supply caused
raw cotton to recede &c.
"The boot and shoe business is doing
well, and it is noted that purchasers are
already hurrying their orders, while
the leather trade improves but slightly If
at all.
HThe Lehigh coal strike continues, and
the consequent financial strsln is in some
quarters severe. The men have already
struck. Several manufacturing establish
ments have closed for the present, and
the repairs usual at this season are likely
to continue longer than usual If matters
do not change. The trade in holiday
goods is large and unusually good. In
st. Paul, Detroit and other points the
weather is noticed as causing dizziness in
some branches of business and at few
other points activity continues in
retail trade. The wholesale business
exhibits some shrinkage, but the general
volume Of trade shown in bank clearings
is even now fully as large as last years
at this period. Notwithstanding the ex-
pected Reading strike stocks have aver
aged fraction higher than week ago,
but the market has been exceed
ingly dull. Wheat has risen Is,
Oil 81, coffee /, with better
distribution, and hogs &c; pork 25c per
barrel. Tin has been lifted 1c and copper
is unchanged. The sugar market shows
no change. though the Louisiana crop is
reported fully 100000 hogsheads larger
than last year Exports of wheat shrink
as prices advance. Up to December in
wheat and -four $4,000, 900 bushels had
gone cut against 65, 500, 900 the same date
last year. Leaving off the
estimated surplus of 100000 bushels
more than last years reports for the re-
maining seven months. It is an encour-
aging fact that singularla little disturb
ance has as yet appeared in the regions
where real estate speculation was active
and the payment of interest on mortgages
do not seem unusually delayed even
when crops have been short. A
Chicago agency having S950,000 interest
due on mortgages January l had already
received more than halt the amount, De-
cember Is. 1t is observed, too, that de-
mands for money from the interior d.
minish at Chicago, although that city is
still drawing from New York and the
pressure for money there does not abate.
Foreign trade shows a small decrease in
imports while exports from this city for
three weeks has been ga per cent. below
those of the corresponding week. last
year.
Z The business failures during the last
seven days are for the United States, 261,
and for Canada, 90; total, 290, compared
with 2SS last week and 263 for the CORES
ponding week last year.